Anodes for electric cells



Oct. 23, 1956 v P. DARGIER DE SAINT vAuliRY 2,768,223

ANODES FOR ELECTRIC CELLS Filed March 19. 1953 INVENTOR. 1

United States Patent AN ODES FOR ELECTRIC CELLS Paul Dargier de Saint Vanlry, Byans-sur-le-Doubs, France, assignor to Lip S. A. DHorlogerie, Besancon (Doubs), France Application March 19, 1953, Serial No. 343,482

Claims priority, application France March 19, 1952 3 Claims. (Cl. 136-83) It is a well-known fact that an oxidation takes place at the anode of an electric cell when the latter is in use. The products resulting from this oxidation form round the anode and spread out in normal fashion when there is enough room for this purpose as is the case with large size cells. But, when the cells are of small size and, indeed, of very small size, the products of the oxidation, instead of spreading out, accumulate round the anode and as a result of this, the cell container runs the risk of becoming deformed.

Therefore the present invention comprehends a small size primary electric cell of the type in which oxidation occurs at the anode during use with oxidation products forming around the anode. The cell includes a container for an electrolyte and an anode and a cathode immersed in the electrolyte. The container includes a bottom and straight walls and as shown in the drawings, both the anode and the cathode have substantial transverse dimensions compared with one of the corresponding dimensions of the container whereby they are of substantial size compared with the size of the container. The important feature whereby the oxidation products of the anode can pass to the interior of the container so as to avoid accumulations of such products to the detriment of the container includes an arrangement as clearly shown in Figures 2 and 3 in which the anode has external surfaces such that no consecutive cross sections taken through the same have the same area, thus no surface of the anode is parallel with the walls of the container.

The present invention remedies this defect and consists in making the external surface of the anode in such a way that it is not in any way parallel with the walls of the container of the cell.

The invention is illustrated by means of two embodiments in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a cell as generally used.

Figure 2 shows one embodiment of the anode according to the invention.

Figure 3 illustrates another embodiment according to the invention.

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In the drawing, the container 1 has been assumed to be transparent. In this container are the cathode 2 and the anode 3 both immersed in the electrolyte.

When the cell is in use or working the oxidation products develop, as may be seen in Figure 1, round the anode 3i and can accumulate between the bottom face 4 of the anode and the bottom of the container. They are also able to accumulate in the space 5 between the parallel cylindrical surfaces of the anode 3 and the container 1.

Figure 2 shows the shape of the anode according to the invention. It is a double-coned shape, the common axis of both the cones being assumed to be vertical while the junction of the two bases forms a projecting circular line so that the anode 3 does not have any surface parallel to the walls of the container 1. With a construction of this kind, there is nothing to hinder the oxidation products of the anode from shifting to the inside of the container while sliding along the double-conical surface of the anode.

Figure 3 shows another embodiment of the invention in which the anode is of spherical form.

I claim:

l. In a small size electric cell, a container for an electrolyte, an electric current producing anode and a cathode immersed in said electrolyte, said container having a bottom and straight walls, said anode being spaced to one side of said cathode and forming insoluble products of oxidation and being constituted by a single element having an external surface such that no consecutive cross sections taken from the same point have the same area and that the area of the cross sections progressively decreases from about the middle section towards both ends, said element having an axis substantially parallel to the straight walls of said container, and a height substantially equal to the height of said container.

2. An anode as claimed in claim 1, constituted by a single element of a spherical shape.

3. An anode as claimed in claim 1, constituted by an element of a double conical shape comprising two cone frusturn parts arranged base to base.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 425,135 Kookogey Apr. 8, 1890 516,653 Lary Mar. 20, 1894 1,972,775 Heise Sept. 4, 1934 2,044,923 Thompson et al June 23, 1936 2,086,224 Henricks July 6, 1937 FOREIGN PATENTS 7,949 Sweden June 12, 1897 

